Machine for removing corn from the cob.



W. B. FENN.

MACHINE FOR REMOVING QORN FROM THE COB. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1914.

LQ S MHMM; Patented 001;. 29, 1918.

6 $HEETSSHEET I.

Mia/M63 fww INV TOR.

WITNESSES.-

W. Jww Y MW HGW. q

TTORNE YS.

W. B. FENN.

MACHINE FbR-REMOVING CORN FROM THE COB.

' APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1914.

Patented; Oct. 29, 1918.

6 SHEETSSHEE-T 2.

IN VEN TOR.

' B t t QQWM A TTORNE Y5.

WITNESSES I w. B. FENN.

MACHINE FOR REMOVilNG CORN FROM THE COB. APPLICKTION FILED OCT. 20. 1914.

Patented 00%;. 29, 1918.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3- 11v VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y5.

W. B. FENN.

MACHINE FOR REMOVING CORN FROM THE 008.

APPLICATION FILED oer. 20. 19:4.

6.SHEETSSHEET 4.

Fm M W. W1 TNE55E5 I I IN VENTOR.

ATTORNE YS.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

W. B. FENN.

MACHINE FOR REMOVING CORN FROM THE 008.

APPLICATION FILED 0cT.20. I914.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

saw/MW W. B. FENN.

MACHINEFOR REMOVING CORN FROM THE COB.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. IBM.

mentea Oct. 29, 1918.

6 $HEETSSHEET 6.

fii m M INVENZOR;

. W1 I'NESSES ATTORNEYS U @Tdtlffid PATENT @FFlUE.

WILLIAM B. PENN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR '10 WEDOIT COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MACHINE FOR REMOVING CORN FROM THE COB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29.. 191%.-

Application filed October 20, 1914. Serial No. 867,617.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. Fn vn, a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Removing Corn from the Cob, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in machines for removing corn from the cob and aims to providea machine which will effectively and rapidly remove green corn from the cob without'crushing or mutilating the grains of corn and which w1ll produce a clean out completely removing all corn from the cob.

My invention comprises various features of improvement which cooperate to produce a result inherently superior-to any machine today on the market. F or instance, I be lieve thatl am the first to invent a ma chine having features of such a practical .nature that the cob may. be positively rotated in its passage through the machine and its presentation to the apparatus designed to remove the grains, thus rendering possible the utilization of'simple and regu' -lable-mechan1sm for effecting such removal.

In the course of producing this improved -machine'as an entity, I have invented several.subcombinations 'of' elements which are possibly applicable beyond the particular type of machine illustrated in the appended ;of the knives used by me.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. v Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown' in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan viewofa modified knife structure, wherein the knife element is pivotally mounted.

F ig. 9 is a perspective of the structure shown in Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11. is a side elevationof the structure shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation showing the manner .in which the cutter elements of Figs. 8 to 11 automatically assume proper cutting angles depending upon theshape of the cob tobe acted upon.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation of a further modification of the knife structure shown in Figs. 1 to 7, illustratinga blade adjustable to vary the depth of cut. v

Fig. 14 is a plan of thestructure shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of thestructure shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a side elevation showing one unit of the feeding mechanism and the driving structure therefor.

Fig. 17 is a detail in side elevation of one ofthe combined feeding and holding cogs forming an improved detail of my improvement.

Fig. 18 is a cross section of the device shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is'a detail in side elevation of a novel controlling spring structure desirably used in each of the feeding units of my machine.

Fig. 20 is a perspective of-a centrifugal grain discharging element.

Fig: 21 is a side elevation partially broken away of a modified feeding unit.

Fig. 22 is a section taken on'line a3w of Fig. 21.

In'the' drawings, the machine is shown as comprising a base 1 and a shaft 2 supported on standards 3 and l and having a loose pulley 5 and a driving pulley 6. This shaft 2 carries 'a beveled gear 7 meshing with a beveled gear 8 upon a shaft 9 and upon this shaft 9 is a gear 10 meshing with a gear 11 upon the vertical shaft 12. On the upper end of this vertical shaft 12 is a gear 13 and upon the lower end thereof is a gear 14. These gears drive circular racks, to be subsequently indicated, which racks arerigid With rotatable parts of my machine.

The working parts of the machine comprise, in general, a feed structure shown of a nature to guide the 0010 through the machine vertically; upper feeding and guide ing cog structure for feeding the cob and simultaneously precluding rotation relative to, such structure; lower gripping and feed ingcog structure for similarly iceding and precluding relative rotation; intermediate discharging. them from the machine; ameans' having a diggmg action on the 00b for diggingout the roots or points of the grains of corn so that the cob will be left entirely clean when it emerges from the machine.

The-main frame-work of the machine comprises a lower ring 15 mounted upon the base 1, a superimposed framework 17 of considerable height,and a top plate 18,-these parts.

being bolted-together as at 16., I These'are units upon which the operating parts of the machine are mounted, and for the sake of clarity, the parts having definite and comparatively independent functions will be described independently.

The chute structure of the machine is de- I sirably formed in independent units. The uppermost unit is in the nature of a chute 19 which is shown revolubly mounted upon ball bearings 20 and capable of being locked against rotation by the mechanism 21. It may be desirable to have this chute unit rigidly stationary or idly rotatable it being possible vunder certain conditionsthat complete rigidity would prove undesirable.

The lower chute unit 22 is slotted as at and'is so mounted upon the rotatable disk like plate 24; that it revolves therewith when such plate is positively driven as is the case,

whenthe machine is in operation. It will be understood that the ears of corn are fed into the'uppermost chute first and then pass to, the chute 22. The slots 22 of the lower chute member extend through the base of i such member and thus produce resilient -gripping fingers which accommodate the ears of various size and by their res1l1ent,-

gripping action aid in centering the cob.

* The upper feeding and guiding mechanism of the machine (shown best in Figs. 1, 2, 16, 17, 1 8 and 19) is likewise mounted upon the rotatable plate 24 and comprises star wheels 25 designed to extend into the slots 23 of the chute 22-and provided with supplementary knifelike disks 26 Which-are rotatable with the star wheels upon shafts' These shafts 27 are supported in piv- 27. otally depending housings 28 and-the star wheels and d1sks are rotated-by drivencogs '29, meshing cogs 30 on shafts 31' and worm wheels 32 which are driven by Worms 33.

These worms 33 constitute the lower extremities of vertical shafts 34 carried by and weaves v extendingthrough plate 2 iand having gears 35 at their upper ends which gears are disposed above the rotatablefplate 2 1. The

gears 35 are rigidly carried-upon the shafts 3'4: and are driven by meshing with stationary racks 36 threaded into the annulus 37 of the top plate 18. f The plate 2 1, carries the circular rack be- "fore mentioned as being driven by gear 13 and the rotation of this plate necessarily causes rotation of the; gears '35 because .they are in mesh with 3 thes'tationary rack 36.

The result is thatthevertical shafts 34 with worms 33 on their lower ends are rotated,

and, through the Worm wheel and gearing described, drive the star wheels and disks. The feeding star jwheels25 in their pivotally depending housings are, under normal conditions, maintained in operative feeding contact with the ears of, corn by the normal eflfect of therotating cogs 30 upon the cogs 29. To positively insurethisacti'on under all conditions, it may be'desirable'to provide a resilient means for forcing the star wheels inwardly. The mechanism which I have shown to insure thisflresult appears best in.-

Figs. 1, 2,16 and 1 9 and it comprises sleeves 38 upon the shafts carrying the star wheels, which sleeves are embraced by torsion springs 89. These torsion springs are rigidly secured at one ei' dltoscrews 4:0 and hav ing their other 'ends'secu-red to worm gears d1 which are a'djust'ableto -tension of such springsby means of worms' l2 having slots 43 in their upperend facilitating regulation by means of a-screw driver.

The lower gripping and feeding cog structure 1s practically identical with the upper feeding and gripping cog structure with the exception that concave roughened rollers 14 replace the combined star wheels andkni't'e :disk's. WVith thisjdifierence, the manner of operation is vthe same, it, being understood that the structure is inverted. The 1similarity of the stri'icture will. appear by inspection of Fig. 1 and it will beseen' that in both cases the driving and'feeding cogsare ultimately driven by worinslunder the control of circular stationary racks through the medium of gears-meshing with suchracks and mounted upon'the vertical wormshafts.

The knife structure which is disposed intermediate 1 upper and lower feeding mechanism is shown best in Figs. and 1 to 11. I It comprises a plurality of, knife supports eXtending-radially-inward through the casingfl'? i and 'readily' removable-by means of the. relat ve structure ":01: the plates 45 and the bolts e6} Referring to .,Fig. 3,, it will appear that each unit comprises a knife housing,4=7'and an inwardlymovable blade-arm 48, suchb1ade-arm beingfinormallyforced inwardly to a; regulable eiitent by means of a coil spring 49 which maybe tensioned by studs 50 and the platefalg A nut'51" and eaaxrea washer 51 are provided to adjustably limit inward movement of the blade-arm. It will appear from this that the position of the cutting blade may be varied'at will. and yet such cutting blade will be yieldable to compensate for irregularities of the corn passing through the machine. The knife blade, per se, designated is of a novel and peculiar form and its structural features and disposition are of utmost importance. In the first place," it is inclined from the vertical (see Fig. 4:) so as to conform to the taper of the cobs which are fed through, small end first. This remedies a common fault hitherto existent in machines of this type wherein vertical blades have tended to out only with their points and have resulted in irregular and inefficient cutting of the grains. I The knife blade is further of such a contour or so positioned that its cutting edge has a-definite tangent to the surface of the cob, so'th'a-t it will adhere to this surface of the cob and use this surface as a guide for the cutting edge. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever used the surface of the cob as a guide for the cutting edge for on the contrary practically every guiding action to regulate the depth of the out has been by a guiding element 1n contact with the outer surface of the grains on the cob. It matf ters not, in my machine how many blades be used to sever the, corn from thecob at vary ing depths. The point is, thatthe depth of the cut is measured from the surface of thecob outwardly instead of from the surface of the grains. inwardly. Theexact set of the eutting edge to attain this desired result may "be effected by adjustment or by the shape of the blade as shown. In any event, the necessary change of position or angle may be slight butit is vitally important that'the edge of this blade beso directed as to insure adherence to the cob surface.

The adherence of the cutting edge of each cutter knife to. the cob is primarily attained by the definite shape of the blade and the mounting of this blade and its supporting arm so that the cutting edge travels substantially along a common radius of the ears passing through the machine, regardless of the variations in the sizes of such ears. (See Fig. 2). By having the blade and its arm of definite set or curvature to insure adherence as stated in the preceding paragraph, it is meant that the inner surface of the blade and its cutter arm should be designed for the maximum diameter of the cob so that such adherence will be permittedwithout.

Wltll a sharp connecting point.

proper angle. This end of the blade holding arm thus presents a gaging surface directly below the cutting edge of the blade and bearing on the cob, so that the adherence of the cutting edge will not be defeated by a gouging action. This gaging directly below the cutting edge inevitably follows from the shaping of the inner surfaces of the blades and the knife arms to insure adherence as stated above but a failure to gage in a substantially direct line below the cutting edge Wlll be fatally defective for the gaging should be 011 a radius of all the ears passing through the machine. Otherwise, the deslred ad lerence cannot be attained, for if the gage is substantially out of line and effective on a cob of maximum diameter. it w1ll permit gouging on a cob of minimum diameter while, if it is effective 011 a small cob to cause adherence it must inevitably hold the blade away from the cob with a large cob.

The knife desirably has a Vertical cutting edge A and a horizontal cutting edge 13 It wouldappear that the action of the springs tending to force the blade arms in wardly and the definite set of the cutting edge of the blades are correlated, although they may not be indispensable to each other.

A modified form of the knife structure is shown in Figs. 8 to 11 wherein it will appear that theblade elements are pivotally.

mounted on the bars 52 by means of bolts 53 and supporting bodies 54; which are con: trolled by a torsion spring 55 so that the blades are normally thrown outward at their upper ends and yet are yieldableto assume angle depending upon the shape the proper of the cob.

I desire it understood that I claim to be the first to provide a cutting blade adapted to 1Eiiutomatically conform to the shape ofthe co A. further modification of my knife structure is presented in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 and comprises blade-arm 101 with a supplemental blade support 102 carrying a blade 103 and having a bolt 101 exten ing through the blade-arm 101. This bolt is threaded for the reception of a locking nut 105 and the abutting faces of the membersv 101 and 102 are complementally serrated as at 106. This structure is to facilitate adjustment of the blade 103 in the manner shown in Fig. 13. This adjustment renders possible the regulation of the depth of cut. The capability ofadjustment'is illustrated in Fig.

13 by the dotted lines.

The centrifugal grain discharging means is best illustrated in Fig. 20 wherein it is shownremoved from the machine. By reference to this figure it will be seen that it comprises a conical plate with an opening in its center. It will appear from Fig. 1

esa me that this conical plate is mounted to rotate with the feeding mechanism and 1s 1nterposed between the upper and lower feeding. w

cog structures, being located immediately below the inwardly extending cutting knives. The plate is designated 56 and the opening 57 serves to permit the passage of the cob to the lower feeding cog structure. Simultancously, the grains which have been re moved by the cutting knives are projected onto the rotating conical plate and by contrifugal action thrown outwardly toward the edges of this plate. The direction of rotation of the plate is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 20 and it will appear that the plate is extended to lit, with comparative closeness, within the casing 17. There are provided scraping blades 58 upon the conical plate which serve to scrape the interior walls.

of the member 17. Extending inwardly from the member 17 is a gathering scraper blade 59 cut away as at ()0 tofacilitate the passage of theiscrapers 58, such blade 59 extending radially inward in contact with the conical plate. This blade 59 is placed adjacent to the farthermost side of a discharging opening 61 and, by inspection, it will be apparent that the grains of .corn are piled up adjacent-to the scraper blade 59 and inthe course of time discharge through the outlet 61. i

The eancave rollers (32 are disposed beneath the lower feeding cog mechanism and are idly rotatable in contact with the cobs passing therethrough. The surfaces of theseurollers are desirably concave and are roughened or provided Wlllll polnts to dig out the roots, commonly called chits, of the corn. This rolling digging, action is in contradistinction to so 'aping. A receptacle is provided for the cobs and the chits are subsequently separated from such cobs.

In operation, the corn cobs'arefed into the guiding chutes and as they approach the feeding and gripping mechanism are firmly 1 grasped between resilient fingers 'of the lower chute unit, the spur wheels and the v knife disks. The spur wheels together with the lower feeding rollers insure feeding action, while the knife disks preclude rotation of the cob in relation to the feeding rollers. The plates Qiand 63 are positively driven by the gears 13 and 14 and the structure of these plates in relation to the casing v 17 is such that the product is protected from' oil or grease,'while the bearings and movable parts are protected from the gummy substances exuding from the corn. It follows, then, that theear of corn is'rotated with its feeding mechanism and issimul-i taneously fed. Since the knives,- when properly adjusted, extend lnto the path of the grains of corn, these grains are cut from 1 the cob by a spiral cutting action. The

pressure of the knives is regulable and the tion "to saidknives.

cutting knives are of a nature to adhere to the surface'of'the cob. It will of'course, be understood that each cutting element may have a plurality of blades and,-as hitherto explained, the blades may be definitely rendered more certain by springs regulablc as to strength and effectiveness.

Also, it has been explained thatthe upper chute member is either idly rotatable or rigidly mounted depending'uponthe varying conditions that may arise.

A modified form of feed unit is illustratedin Figs. 21 and 22 of the drawings. In this form, the ears of corn are fed by a plurality of endless chains made of links 107 andconnected by pins 108 operating over sprockets 109 1 Forming a part of these chains, are channel blocks 110 carrying rubber or other non-metallic surface elements 111 with concave faces 112 preferably roughened andcob comprisingcutting knives, and'meansfor gripping the sides of an ear of corn and rotating with the. corn under subjection to said knives.

2. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives and means for gripping the sides of an ear of corn and rotating while feeding the corn under sub- 1 ]6Ct1011 to said knives. .3. A machme for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, feeding eleme'nts and means preventing independent vrotatlon of the corn cobs, said elements and means being bodily rotatable while feeding the corn in relation thereto under subjec- 4:. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives producing a torsional stress on the ears ofcorn in operation, feeding elements, androtatable blades biting into the corn cob to preclude independentrotation.

-5. A machine for cuttingcorn from the cob comprising cutting knives exerting a torsional stress on the ears of corn, feeding star wheels for feeding ears of corn to said knives, and rotatable knife disks co-acting With said star wheels to grip the ears of 'corn; Y

6. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, spaced cob feed elements, between which 'said knives are mounted, and means for diverting cut grain before it reachesthe last feed elements.

7. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, and a con trifugal device adjacent said knives for discharging the cut grains.

8. A machine for cutting corn from thecob comprising cutting knives, feeding elem'ents below said knives and a plate for catching the cut grains, said plate being betWeen'said knives and elements.

9. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, and a rotating element adjacent said knives for catching the cut grains.

10. A machine for cutting corn from the .cob comprising cutting knives, and a rotating conical element adjacent said knives for catching the cut grains.

11. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives and a rotating plate for catching the cut grains and having av hole therein for the passage of' the cobs therethrough. r

12. A. machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, cob feeding elements below said knives, a plate for catching .the cut grains, and an ejector plate,

said first plate being disposed between the knives and elements.

13. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising .cutting knives and a feed chuterotatable with the ears of-corn.

14:. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, a rotatable I feed chute, and a supplemental-feed chute normally stationary in relation'to said first chute.

feed elements, elements rotating with said feed elements to preclude rotation of the corn cob in relation to the chute, and'means for rotating the chute and feed elements as a unit. I

18. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, feed eleeach knife blade.

ments, driving mechanism for said feed elements, and a relatively rotatable rack for operating said driving mechanism.

19. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, feed elements "bodily movable in a circle, a stationary rack, and intermediate mechanism operated by aid rack to drive said feed elements.

20. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising'cutting knives," feed elements 'on radially movable shafts, and driving mechanism tending to throw said elements inwardly.

21. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, feed elements on ,radially movable shafts, and driving mechanism tending to throw said elements inwardly, and springs for assisting said mechanism in this function.

22. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, feed elements on radially movable shafts, and springs tendingv to throw said elements. inwardly,

, and a worm and gear mechanism for regulating the effect of such springs.

23. A machine for cutting. corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, means for rotating the cobs of corn and thu presenting them to the cutting knives, said knives being non-rotatable, and springs for feeding said knives inwardly.

24,. In a machine for cutting corn from the cob, cutting knife elements, and blade members thereon automatically adjustable to assume position conforming to the constantly varying forms of the cobs. 25. In a'machine for cutting corn, rough- -ened rollers coactively operative upon the shaved cobs, the roughened parts being constructed'to squeeze the chits therefrom.

'26. In a machine for cutting corn, idle roughened rollers operative upon the shaved cobs, the roughened parts being constructed to press the chits therefrom.

27. Ina machine for cutting, green corn from the cob, feeding means, relatively rotatin knife structure comprising resiliently held Irnife arms, and knife blades, the said knife blades and arms being located and p0- sitioned to move substantially along a radius of the ears passing through the machine as such ears vary in size and shape.-

28. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, feeding means, relatively rotating knife structure comprising resiliently held knife arms, knife blades with cutting vedges, the said cutting edges and arms being located and positioned to move substantially along a radius of the ears passing through the machine as such ears vary in size and shape, and a gage directly beneath 29. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, feeding means, relatively rotating lmife structure comprising resiliently the machine as 'such ears vary in size andv cars to saidlcutterknives comprising spaced feed elements yieldablv operating ,upon I the I sides. of thecob, and I yieldably. bearing upon the sides of thej'cob pendent of held knife arms, and knife blades,

edges of said knife blades being so mounte on said arms that they move substantially along a radius of the ears passing through shape, and a gage for bearing on the cob directly beneath each cutting edge. I 81. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, anda relas tively rotatable element for catching and d s- 20 charging the cut kernels.

82. vA machine for cutting, corn from cob compr sing a relatively rotatable disk element for, catching the kernels and means for discharging such kernels from the outer edge of such disk.

83. A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, and a rela+ tively rotatable. element beneath said cutting knives to direct the discharge [of the cut kernels. v I

34.A machine for cutting corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, a relatively rotatable J element beneath said cutting knives to direct the discharge of thecut.

kernels and an element relatively rotatable .with the aforesaid element adapted to remove the said out kernels.

35. A machine for cutting corn blades, said blades. having: a rectilinear cutting edge positioned longitudinally of the ears, gaging shoes beneath said blades, and" I means permitting said blades and shoes tov yield substantially along. a radiusof said ears. I I I J 36. In a machine for cutting, green corn from the cobby a spiral cutting action, cutter knives, means for'initially presenting the non-feeding means and independent of said feed elements to preelude deflectioif'of the ears into the spaces between said feed elements due to torsional stress, said; non-feedin means being inde said cutter knives 1 i 1 '37. In a machine for cuttin'gl green corn upon the sides 'of the cob, and funnel seg-v fromthe'cob by a spiral cutting action, cut- '60 terlmives, means for initially pnesenting the ears "to said cutter knives comprising.

spaced... feed elements. yieldablyf operating mentsibearing upon the sides ofthecob in the spaces and being .yieldable independentlv 'ing upon the ears inthe saidspaces, said from the cob,cutteri-knivesffeed elements I from the cob comprising relatively rotatable knife of said feed elements, said funnel segments being independent of said cutter knives.

- 38'. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob by a spiral cutting action, cutter knives, means for init ally presenting the ears to said cutter knives comprismg vradially spaced feed elements yieldably operating upon the sides of the ears, and independently yieldablefunnel segments bearfunnel segments being independent of said cutter knives. 1 U 1 39. In a machine for cutting green corn fromthe cob,cutter-knivesg feed elements for introducing the ears initially tosaid so "knives, and supplemental guides for said feed elements independent thereof and of I said cutterknives.

40. In a machine for"(m-tting-greencorn for introducing the ears initially to said cutterknives, and supplemental funnel segments for said elements, saids egments being independent of Sitldl feed Wheels and-said cutter knives. I I 41. Ina machme' for cutt ng-green corn.v from the cob, ear feeding means comprising spaced yieldable elements foperating'on the sides of the cob, relatively rotatable cutter knives, and means. independent offs-aid knives for preventing escape of the ears be" tween. said spaced elements. 5 V

42. In a-machine for cutting green corn from the 'cob', ear feeding means comprising spaced yieldable elements operating on 'the sides of the cob, relatively rotatable cutter ,knives,'."fand means" independent of "said knives and of said elements for preventing escape 'of'the ears betvven' said elements.

:43. In a machine. for. cutting green-*icorn from the cob, ear feeding means vcomprising I spaced! yieldable elements operating; on the sides of the cob, relatively rotatable cutter knives, and-"means independent of said knives l 'forpreventing the escapeof the ears'be 11o tween sald spaced elements, said meansbeing yieldable independently of said elements and being lmives.

44. Ina machine for-cutting green corn from the cob by a sp ral cutting action, 'rotary knives, and" fed vroller structure comprising at least three elements. operating on the sldesjof the ears-and yieldable along distinct radiallinesof the samecircle. I

-45. In a machine for eutting green corn from the cob by a spiral cutting action, rela- I tively rotary knives, and feed roller'structure comprisingat least three elements opera-ting on the sides of'theeais and yieldable in radial planes converging at the longitudinal center ofZthe ears being fed.

46L In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob by a spiral cutting action, relativelyr'rotary knives, and feed'roller struc independent of said cutter v ture comprising at least three elements opcrating on the sides of the ears and swingable in radial planes converging at the longitudinal center of the ears being fed. 4. 47. In a machine for cutting'green corn from the cob, ear feeding means compris-' three or more spaced yieldable elements, each of said spaced elements adapted to move in an 'arcuate. path along a-radial of said ears.

49. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, toothed feeding wheels so mounted as to yield in an arcuate path longitudinally of said ears, j

50. In a machine-for cutting green corn from the cob, ear feeding means comprising elements yieldable in an arcuate path longitudinally of said ears, and cutter knives yieldable transversely of said ears, said cut ter knives being rotatable with relation to said feeding means. j i

51. Ina mach'ne for cutting green corn from the cob, ear feeding means comprising three or more elements yieldable in an arcu-.

ate path longitudinally of said ears, and guiding elements cooperating with said feeding means and yieldable transversely of said ears.

from the'cob, ear feeding means, and guiding means mounted independently of said ear feedingmeans, said guiding means operative at all times simultaneously with said feeding means.

53. Ina machine for cuttlng green corn from the cob, ear feeding means comprising three or more toothed elements yieldable rax dially of the ears, the teeth of said elements being operable in the same yielding movement.

"54:. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, ear feeding means comprising three or more toothed elements yieldable on radii of the ears, the axis of each tooth'being in the plane of rotation of said toothed elements.

plane as the 55. A machine for cutting J green corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, and means fortilting. aid cutting knives tolregulate the depth of cut.

56. A machine for cutting green corn from the cob comprising cutting knives, and three or morefeeding elements for feeding the ears to said knives, said feeding'elements having extended bearing upon the ears.

' 57. A machine for cutting green corn from the cob comprising feeding means, relatively rotatable knife structure, and blades which bite into the oobs to prevent turnin of the cobs under torsional stress.

58. A machine for cutting, green corn from the cob comprising knife structure, feeding means, and non-feeding means in conjunction with said feeding means and designed to bear on the cob above the knives.

59. In a corn cutting machine, selfad justing feeding members adapted to contact with the sides of-the ears of corn and means for causin said members to rotate them while feeding them longitudinally.

60. In a corn cutting machine, a means fonfeedin 'th e ears of corn, and a driving means tending to force said feeding means into operative relation to said ears of corn.

61. In a machine for cutting green-corn from the cob, cutter knives, feeding ele.

ments for feeding ears through said cutter 52. In a machine for cutting green cor'n v knives, and blades adjacent said feeding elements for biting into and bracing the cars of corn, said feeding elements and blades being yieldable to conform to the varying contours of the ears of corn.

62. In a machine for cutting green corn from the cob, cutter knives, feeding elements for feeding the ears to said cutter knives and biting ear-bracing blades adjacent said feeding elements yieldable to conform to the varying sizes of the ears. In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. FENN.

Witnesses:

H. S. CLnMoNs, JoHN OoNNnns. 

